Ampoule filling machine



Jan. 9, 1945. w, BARKER 2,367,085

' AMPOULE FILLING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORmlliam ZBarlrer l 19 BY 9 gk/oflawww r ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1945. w. T.-BARKER AMPOULE FILLING MACHINE Filed March'l8, 1959 4 Sheets-Shet 2\NVENTOR Wuhan: 7. Barker.

m E N9 bf v at 4 7 Mn; as; g S a? 2 PE @k 8\ Y m V 5.. mm 5 m4: o mm .Hma N. m an N2 a N 4N ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1945. w. T. BARKER AMPOULE FILLINGMACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed March 18, 1939 Wm. mm.

INVENTOR MIljamTBarker ATTORNEY Y w. T. BARKER AMPOULE FILLING MACHINEJan. 9, 1945.

Filed March 18, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 iNVENTOR 14/112137" I B ark 67.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1945 UNITED STAT -s PATENT oer] CE MACHINEWillianfTfiBarker, Mount Vernon; NLY.

.vApplicationiMarch 118, 1939,; Serial 0.:262367 This inventionrelateswto the automatic filling of. ampoules and'the like, -and rmoreparticularly to a machine for filling-ampoules, :which :are adapted toserve as containers for .serums, vacclues, and other medicinalpreparations.

One object of ithisinvention is to'xprovidexan improved ampoule fillingmachine of 'the.,:above nature which will-be relatively inexpensive .tomanufacture, simple "in construction, :vcompact, substantiallyautomaticin operation, :and very efiicient and durable in 'use.

With these andvother objects inlviewymhi'ch will appear as thedescription pr'oceedspthere has been illustrated in' theaccompanyingdrawings, one form in which -..the invention may :beconveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. .1 is a top planl'viewpfa machine embodyin the principles and.featuresof this :invention.

Fig. 2 is .a longithdinalsectional view rthrough the machine, taken on"theI-ine 2- 2 of Fig'il, looking in the direction of :the: arrows.

Fig. 3 is a brokeniongitudinalsectionalview taken on the line 3-13-ofFig.11,.1ooking in "thedirection of the arrows.

. Fig. 4 is artransverse cross-sectional viewztaken on .the line 44 ofFig. 1. i

Fig. 5 is atransverse;cross-sectional-view, taken on'the line 55 of Fig.1, lookinginitheopposite direction from Fig 4.

Fig. .6 is a transverse crossesecftional view, taken on the line*6"6-ofFig."1.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged broken; plan view; looking in the direction-ofthesarrowsfl -ll in -Fig. 2.

Fig.3.8 is an enlarged broken vertical sectional view taken generally:on :the: line:=-'8--8 -of=-Fig.i fi. Fig. 9isa sectional view takenzonthe line s-"9 of Fig.-:8. I

Referring "now to the idrawings wherein like,

tion through :both sides-.ro'f "the machine,- proti-- sion is made .of"two :parallel :verticallynspacew apartv helical :screws. Ilsand fl 8whichsextend'ebetween and are journaled inzthezplates-i lflmnd-i l I.

The feed screws I1 and I8 are rprovidedrwith' right and.left:hand.:helicaltgrooves 139 sand 17.20,

said'ampoule; 'ThespiraL-groovesW9 and 20 are of equal pitch,'and-the-screws I 1 and t8 are arranged tobe rotated in-oppositedirections 'so that ampoules directed against the front side ofsaidscrews-will be fed:to the.1eft,'-as viewed in Figs. :1 and 2, from:the plate I I'towar'd the plate tfl -and in so doing,- will passthe'ampoule filling and sealing stations. "The ampoules directed againsttherear of the-screws 'II and-I8 will be likewise fed to "the left, andwill pass the printing 'stationvwhere suitable :indicia will be stampedupon thebody portion 22 of the ampoules. The mechanism v.is so arrangedas to cause the ampoules to make one turn for each revolutionof'the'screws I1 and I8.

. It will be understood that the filling and sealingudevicesatthefrontof the. machine or the printing device attherear maybe.simultaneously or selectively operated as desired. The ampoulesareintroduced into the-machine by separateguides orchutes 23 and 24,.eachcomprising .three- :metalt bars, down which said ampoulesslide bygravity toward .the feed screws: I I and I 8;respective1y.

Screw driving. mechanism .electric .motor .25 ,serves as the commonsource .of power .for...al1.0f.the operating parts of themachinaandprovisionis made of aclutch part 2-6 rigidly secured .upon'theendlof the motor shaft 21. Another clutch .part28, which is adaptedtohave frictional engagement with the clutch part -26, is slidablymounted...upon -a common drive .shaft. 29 extending through and.journaled in the frame plate I2, see. Fig. 2. .The .end 30 of tendingfrom -the frame ,;plate II.

the driveshaft. 29 adjacent the frame. plate I I .is rotativelysupportedupon .a. reduced end (3| of the ..1ower .feed screw I8, which .isextended through the .p1ate- I.l, f0r:.this .purpose'. The crank member32 .of. a Geneva ;gear is secured upon secured tozand rotatable=with;.the disc .33;meshes with. a;;gear.;pinion iii-secured to the end3 I I of the lowerfeedscrew I8,2whereby-said Geneva disc.33 willzbe:intermittently.;driven.

Another gear 31 is secured on the end 3| of the lower feed screw l8 andmeshes with a gear said needle tube 69.

38 secured on one end 39 of the upper feed screw H, which is extendedthrough the frame plate II for this purpose.

Th clutch part 28 is adapted to be slid along the shaft 29 by means of aclutch shifting lever 48 pivoted on a bracket 4| to the frame plate l2and having a forked end 42 riding in a groove 43 formed in a hub member44 of the clutch part 28. A hand wheel 45 is provided on the cultch part28 whereby the shaft 29 may, if desired, be rotated by hand for thepurpose of adjusting and timing the various devices driven by lower feedscrew |8 adjacent the frame. plate H, and said cam 46 has curved cammingsurfaces 41 and 48 (Fig. '7) which serve to drive a pair of parallelslidable ampoule pushers 49 and 56 toward and away from the deliveryends of the chutes 23 and 24', respectively. The pushers 49 and 50 arecarried, one at each side of the feed screws I1 and I8, by a cross-block5| havin a longitudinal stem 52 which is slidably mounted in a sleeve 53secured in and extendin from the frame plate I I over the cam 46. A pin'54 extending downwardly from the stem 52 is alternately acted upon bythe camming surfaces 41 and 48 to simultaneously move the pushers 49 and58 back and forth. The arrangement is such that at every stroke of thepushers 49 and 58, ampoules will be pushed from the delivery ends ofboth magazine chutes 23 and 24, along which the same are being fed, intothe grooves l9 and the measuring device by a nut 14, surrounding Thelower casing member 13 is secured to a square upper casing member 15 bymeans of a plurality of cap screws 16 which also clamp the measuringdevice to the tie rod I4. The screws 16 also clamp the casing members I3and 15 about a non-corrosive cylindrical sleeve H, such as stainlesssteel, located between them. The interior of the cylindrical sleeve H isconnected by a pipe 19 to an overhead source of liquid supply, such as areservoir 18 (Fig. 3). The cylinder 11 is connected to the tube 69 by alower aperture in which the screw 14 is located. It will be understoodthat the lifting of the ampoule at the filling station takes placeduring a dwell of the feed screw.

A piston 80, also of non-corrosive material, see Figsq8" and 9, isslidably mounted in one end of the cylinder 11, the other end of saidcylinder being closed by a spring-cushioned non-corrosive hollow plug8|. The adjacent ends of the piston 89 and the plug 8| are spaced apartwhen separated a determined amount to provide a space 82 having acapacity sufficient to receive the desired amount of liquid from thereservoir 18 when the port 19 is open. The hollow plug 8| is slidablymounted upon a stem 83 and embraces a coiled spring 84, which pressesagainst the stem 83 being seated in a socket 83b therein. The stem 83 isprovided with a flange 83a on its inner end. Moreover, as clearly shownin Fig. 8, the interior surface of the hollow piston plug 8| is provided20 of the feed screws l1 and I8 to start the feed of the ampoulesthereby.

' Ampoule filling apparatus As the ampoules are fed along toward theframe plate H] by the feed screws l1 and |8, their bases 55 will rideupon a support bar 56, and the body portions 22 of said ampoules areloosely held against the lower screw |8 by a side guide bar 51 (seeFigs. 1, 6 and '7). As each ampoule is fed along thesupport bar 56 tothe filling device, it rides onto an elevator plate 58 having. adownwardly projecting stem 59 (see Fig. 8) slidably mounted in astationary sleeve 69. A horizontal pin 6| extending from the stem 59 isconnected toone end 62 of a lever 53 pivoted at 64 to the frame plate H(see Figs. 3 and 7). The lever 63 is extended along the machine and hasa roller 65' mounted upon an offset end 66-thereof (see Fig. l). Theroller 65 is disposed to ride upon the periphery of a cam 61 secured toa sleeve 68, rotatably mounted upon the shaft 29. The rotation of thecam 61 will rock the lever 63 and cause the elevator plate 58 to liftthe particular ampoule resting thereon into filling position withrespect to a filling needle tube 69 extending downwardly from a liquidmeasuring device supported upon the tie rod l4 (see Fig. 8). The needletube 69 is adapted to enter the neck portion 2| of the ampouleforasubstantial distance whenthe ampoule i raised by the elevator 58.

The neck portion 2| of the ampoule is accurately centered with respectto the needle tube 69 entering th same by a funnel-shaped member 18mounted for free up and down sliding movement on the needle tube69 andhung from the liquid measuring device by fingers and- 12 secured toasquarelower casing member 13-of-- cry of the cam 85. A roller 94 on thelower end with threads 84a for receiving a hollow threaded screw plug84b which surrounds the stem 83 and is screwed into the outer end ofsaid hollow plug 8 I. It will thus be seen that the flange 83a on thestem 83 has an abutting engagement with the inner end of the screw plug84b to limit the movement of the cushion plug piston 8| with respect tosaid stem 83. By means of this construction, movement of the pistontoward the plug 8| will force the liquid from the cylinder down throughthe tube 69 into the ampoule, and when the piston 88 strikes the hollowplug 8|, the latter will slide upon the stem 83 and protrude out of thecylinder, thus giving a visible indication outside the casing 11 thatthe filling operation is completed. Simultaneously with the movementof-the piston 88 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, the hollow plug 8|will be caused to draw away from the piston 80 to open the lower portleading from the space 82 into the needle tube 69.

The piston 88 and the hollow plug 8| are arranged to be moved in themanner above described by cams 85 and 8.6, respectively, which cams (seeFigs. 1 and 2) are secured upon the sleeve 68 to rotate therewith. Thecams 85 and 86 have camming grooves 81 and 88, respectively, which serveto reciprocate the piston 80 and hollow plug 8| in timed relation withthe rise and fall of the elevator 58 under the action of the cam 61. Thecams 61, 85.and 86 are timed to operate the elevator, the piston 80 andthe plug 8|., as above described, during the period of dwell when thescrews l1 and I8 are at rest. The reciprocating piston 80 is connectedto one end 89 of a rod 98 (see Figs. land 2), which is connected at itsother end to the upper end 9| of 2. depending lever 92 pivoted at 93 tothe tie rod l5 (see Figs. 2 and 4), and extending downwardly therefromto a point adjacent the periphof the. lever 92 rides in the camminggroove 87 ofthe cam 85 (Fig. 2)

. Therhollow plug 8 l. is connected through the stem 83"to" a'-lever-95- (see Fig. 9) which is pivgroove 88' of the cam-"86.

Operation-.0 ampoulefilling device ,Thexeamming grooves 87 and- '88 areof such contour that the piston-80: and hollow plug 8| will beicaused toi open and close the upper and lower ports ofthe cylinder "at the propertime, I and-the piston80 and hollow plug 8| aremoved in sucha mannerthatthe liquid-in the space 82 will be forced downwardly through the needletube -69 into the ampoule at the proper-time. After the liquidzin thespace 182 has been entirely expelled therefrom, the piston 80 willberetracted slightlygwhereby a partial vacuum will be pro duced in thespace 82. .for..sucking. surplusliquid from the upper. end 2| of theampoule .22 toprevent it from wetting the neck of the ampoule which:might later cause carbonization when said neck is fused during thesealing operation Both the, piston'80 and the hollow plug 8I will thensimultaneously be retracted to the right (see Figs.

8 and 9), the piston 80 preferably traveling sorne-' what faster thanthe plug BI so as to maintain a slight vacuum in the space 82 forcausingthe liquid from the supply reservoir 78 to .be rapidly suckeddown intothe cylinder when the port 79 is next opened. Y

Ampoule "sealing device the path of. a. plurality of-small converginggas jets emitted from a likenumber of opposed openings I06 and I07provided respectivelyin a pair of parallel spaced-apart burner bars I08and I09 located above the feed screws I7 and I8.

The burner bars I08 and I09 are hollow and supplied with gas undersuitable pressure by tubes 2 and II3 (Fig. 6) to a common pipe 4- whichis secured to the tie rod I3 bya clamp- I I5. The supply tube II'4extends from th clamp .I I5 to a burner regulator IJIB andthence to asource of gassupply- (not showrn' through a tube II7. Manual adjustmentoflthe burner regulator IIB may be readily madeto. insure theproper blueflames of suflicient .heat to melt the top of the neckportions 2I of theampoules during the dwell period of the spiral screws, whereby perfectseals I I8will be obtained.

Ampou-Zemrinting device circular inking ratchet and pawl driven platensI I9 and I20 of the usual flat form, said platens being mountedfor'rotation on a frame member plate I38 to the frame plate I0.

' ing plate I38.

which the pin I57 extends.

I22, 'Inking rollers 'I23an'd I24 mounted to rotate on a'common shaftI25 arearranged to be reciprocated over the surface of the platens II9and I20, respectively, to collect ink therefrom and carryittoprintingtype I26 and I27 carried by holders I28 and I 29 respectively.The holders I28 and I29 are arranged to be swung toward and away fromtheampoules being fed by the screws I7 and I8, the bases 55 of saidampoles being slidingly supportedby an elongatedbar I30 (see Fig. 6). g1

The movement of the inking rollers I23 and I24 over the'platens H9 andI20, and of the typeholders I28 and I29 toward and away from theampoules being fed by screws I7 and I3, is effected by an eccentric discI3I secured upon a sleeve I32 which is rotatably mounted on the commondrive'sh'aft 29 adjacent the frame plate I2.- The periphery of the discI3I has a groove I33 in which rides a ring I34. By this construetion, itwill be seen that the continuous rotation of the disc I3I willreciprocate a connecting rod I35 connected to the ring I34 and cause itto rock an arm I36 secured to a rock-shaft I37 (Fig. 4) journaled in andextending between theframe plates II and I2. The rock-shaft I37 extendsbeyond the frame plate I I, and is also journaled in a bearing plate I38which extends forwardly from the tie rod I6. A tie rod I39 connects theAll arm I40 secured tothe rock-shaft I37 (Fig. 6) and extending upwardlytherefrom is provided with an elongatedslot I4I in its upper end toreceive one end of the inking roller shaft I25. An elongated bracket I42secured to the arm I40 extends under the platens IISI and I20 and thenupwardly as an arm I43. The arm I43 has" an elongated slo-t I44 inits'upper end to receive the other end of the shaft I25. Springs I45 areconnected to each of the arms I 40 and I43 and to the adjacent ends ofthe shaft I25 to retain the respective shaft ends in the slots MI andI44.

A segment cam I46 (see Fig. 6) having a cam slot I47 'thereinis securedto the rock-shaft fI37, said cam slot embracing a roller I carried by abell-cank lever I48 pivoted at I49 to the bear- The other end I5I of thelever I48 is connected by a. link I52 to an arm I53 secured to a shaftI54 journaled in a bracket I55 secured on the bearing plate I38. Iheshaft I54 extends out of the bracket I55 toward the frame plate I0 andhas an arm I 56 secured thereto (see Fig. 2). The arm I56 has a screwthreaded pin I57 therein adjacent its freeend I58.

Provision is alsoimade of arms I59 and I60 rotatably mounted on theshaft I54, one on each side of the arm I56. Each of the arms I59 and I60has an elongated slot I6I therein through Nuts I62 are screwthreaded oneach end of the pin I57 to clamp each of the arms I59 and ltifito thearm I56.

A stud I63 is pivoted on a vertical axis in the upper end of eachof thearms I59 and I60, and

. The ampoule printing device includes a pair of Pins I65 are provided.in the upper end of each of the studs I63, saidv pins I65 extending fromthe studs I63 in'opposite directions for receiving lugs I66 extendingrearwardly from the type holders I28 and I29 in which the pins I65 areiournaled. The lugs I66 are held in place on the pins I65 by set screwsI67. the elongated slots I6I permits adjustment of the holders I28 andI29 toward and away from the ampoules in respect to the arm I56. Thepivoted studs "I63 permit twisting of the type holders on The. provisionof the pin I 57 and,

a vertical axis and the pins I65 permit movement of the type holders ona horizontal axis to adjust them relatively to the ampoules beingfed-along by the feed screws I1 and I8. A rubber covered edge I68 of astationary bar I69 engages the neck portions 2I of the ampoules as theyare fed past the type holders I28 and I29 to cause said ampoules to spinabout their vertical axes upon the supporting bar I30.

Operation of the printing device After the filled and sealed ampouleshave been sterilized (by a separate operation outside of the machine)they are fed downwardly through the chute 24, and automatically pushedone at a time by the cam-actuated pusher 50 into the feeding grooves I9and 28 on the feed screws I1 and I8 respectively. The screws I1 and I8will then feed the ampoules toward and pastthe printing type I26 and I21in the holders I28 and I29 respectively. While the ampoules are beingpushed along by the feed screws I1 and I8, the type holders I28 and I29will be rocked away from printing position at timed intervals to obtainink for printing the desired indicia on the ampoules. Although two setsof type and type holders are herein shown, only one need be used, orwhen both are in use, different colored ink may be used on the ink lowshaft I86 and has an arm I9I secured upon its other end. A detectorfinger I92 similar to the finger I83 is positioned to be engaged byampoules as they are being fed toward the printing device from the chute24 and has a stem I93 supported in a stationary'bearing sleeve I94 andadapted to swing on a vertical axis depending therefrom. An arm I95 issecured to the lower end of the stem I93 and is connected to the arm I9Iby a link I96.

Selective operation of filling and printing mechanism When a pluralityof ampoules are being fed from the delivery end of the chute23 towardthe filling and sealing mechanisms, they will automatically engage thedetector finger I83 and swing it in a direction to rock the clutchcontrol finger I16 out of the slot I18 in th clutch key l1I, whereuponthe key I1I will be pressed into the key-way I13 in the hub I10 by thespring I14. The connection between the piston cam 85 and the hub I10 bythe key I1I drivingly connects the piston cam 85, the plug cam 86, andthe ampoule elevating cam 81 through the sleeve 68 to the common driveshaft 29. This causes the ampoules as they pass th filling device to beautomatically filled with liquid and to continue past the sealing'device as long as there ampoules.

Selective drive arrangement Since the ampoule filling and sealingmechanisms need not be in operation when the printing mechanism is inoperation, means are herein provided to independently and selectivelydrive said mechanisms. For this purpose, provision is made of a smallcylindrical hub I10 (see Fig. 2) keyed to the common drive shaft 29 anddisposed between the sleeves 68 and I32, which are freely rotatable onthe shaft 29. A pair of clutch keys HI and I12, which are freelyslidable axially in the cam 85 and in the disc I3I respectively, areadapted to be slid into a key-way i13 formed in the hub I10 by springsI14 and I15 respectively. Clutch control fingers I16 and I11 arearranged to lie in beveled slots I18 and I19 formed in the clutch keysHI and I12, respectively, t hold the respective keys in retractedposition and out of the key-way I13. The clutch control fingers I16 andI11 are urged and retained in key holding position by springs I80 andI8I (see Figs. 1 and 2) secured to a stud I82 extending from the plateI2 and to each finger I16 and I11, respectively.

The clutch control fingers I16 and I11 are adapted to be automaticallyheld out of the slots I18 and I19 respectively to selectively releaseeither of the keys HI and I12, so long as the ampoules are being fedalong by the screws 11 and I8 from the delivery end of either of thechutes 23 and 24. When ampoules are being delivered in front of thescrews I1 and I8 from the chute 23 and fed toward the filling device,they are caused to engage a filling detector finger I83 (see Fig. 7)having a stem I 84 supported in a stationary bearing sleeve I85 to swingon a vertical axis. The

are any ampoules in engagement with the detector finger I83.

When the supply of ampoules in the chute 23' is exhausted, the clutchcontrol finger I16 will be swung into key-withdrawing position by thespring I80, and the above operations will be instantly stopped, therebypreventing the discharge of filling liquid from the needle tube 69.

When a plurality of ampoules are being feel I from the delivery end ofthe chute 24 toward stem I84 extends downwardly and is connected 1 theprinting device, said ampoules will engage and swing the printingdetector finger I92 in a direction to rock the clutch control finger I11out of the slot I19 in the clutch key I12. This action causes the key112 to be pressed into the key-way I13 in the hub I10 by the spring I15,thus drivingly connecting the eccentric disc I3I with the common driveshaft 29, whereupon the printing device will be actuated as abovedescribed.

When the ampoules are exhausted from the chute 24 and the detectorfinger I92 is released, the clutch control finger I11 will be urged intokey-withdrawing position and the operation of the eccentric disc I3I andprinting mechanism will automatically stop.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in whichthe invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form isshown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention isnot to be limited to the specific disclosure, but may be embodied invarious other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, theinvention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming withinthe scope of the following claim.

I Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new andfor which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

In an ampoule filling machine, a vertical filling nozzle, means tosupport an ampoule below said nozzle in alignment therewith, means todeliver a charge of liquid to said nozzle comprising a horizontalcylinder located above said nozzle having a top inlet port connectedwith a source of liquid supply and a bottom outlet port connected withsaid nozzle, a hollow cushion piston having a vertical end face locatedat one I end of said cylinder for initially closing said outletport, acoiled spring in said hollow piston, a driven slidable stem memberhaving a socket for enclosing the outer end of said spring, a hollowthreaded plug screwed into the outer end of said hollow pistonsurrounding said stem member, a flange on said stem member havingabutting engagement With the inner end of said screw plu to limit theoutward movement of said piston with respect to said stem, a secondpiston having a vertical end face located in the other end of pleteexpulsion of said charge from said cylinder into said ampoule. p 7WILLIAM T. BARKER.

